Pittsburgh In-Game Thread
By JohnnyWell here we are, the Big East Championship game at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York. Johnny here with you, checking in about an hour away from the opening tip. As I was coming in, I could hear rivaling chants of “Let’s Go Pitt” and “Hoya Saxa” as the fans were awaiting the gates to open. That should happen in about five minutes, so right now it’s pretty quiet in here. The two teams are warming up and all the scoreboards in the Garden have the Georgetown G and Pittsburgh PITT written on them.
It’s going to be an exciting game - a rematch of last year’s final and the chance for Georgetown to beat the only Big East team it has yet to defeat. I’ll check back with whatever info I get, so stay tuned. And feel free to tell me what you think about the game or ask me any questions you have in the comments.
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
man, sooo nervous about this one, lets play hard and leave it all on the court, another title in our grasp, lets grab it!!!
March 15th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
We gotta win this one!
March 15th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
One question? Do you think Gtown is deep enough in terms of bench play to make it far in the Tourney? All of the games this year have had TIGHT margins of victory. What do you think about this?
March 15th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Well Nick, I don’t know. I think the Hoyas are pretty deep this year. It hasn’t looked that way too much of the Big East season with Chris Wright out and some interspersed injuries to DaJuan, Austin, and even Pat a little bit. But the Hoyas can legitimately play ten players, and Coach has said before that this team is a group of guys who he trusts on the court at all times. He said that he trusts everyone on the roster and that’s a pretty bold statement.
And besides, I’m not sure if depth matters too much in the tournament because the timeouts are all a little bit longer since they’re all on CBS. The extra bit of rest for the players seems to cancel out what a team might gain by having a deep bench.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I think the Hoyas are so deep that a starting squad of Macklin, Rivers, Wright, Ewing, and Crawford would be good enough to get an 11 or 12 seed in the Big East Tournament.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
IS IT 9 YET???????????
March 15th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
It’s 8:50, the clock here says 10:00 to go, and the teams are back in the locker room for one last pregame pep talk from the coaches.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
National Anthem played by Mark “The Loveman” Pender from Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
This is actually pretty impressive. He’s playing the trumpet, and the fans are singing the words. Pretty well too. Go New Yorkers, I guess.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
dont know if this is a bad omen or not, but all the gameday people picked gu to win, hubert, digger, coach knight and jay bilas, lets hope they’re right
March 15th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
And here are the starting lineups:
For the Pittsburgh Panthers - Fields, Ramon, Benjamin, Young, and Blair.
And for the Georgetown Hoyas - Wallace, Summers, Freeman, Sapp, and Hibbert.
Very loud crowd for the Panthers, probably a little louder for the Hoyas.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
You got any idea who the refs are today?
March 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Oh, sorry. Refs are Bob Donato, Jim Burr, and John Cahill
March 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
lets go
March 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hoyas lose the tip and they turn it over on the first possession.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
fts are key today just relax and make em
March 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
DaJuan hits one of two free throws to start the scoring.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
automatic
March 15th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I like to see Roy getting involved early. And looking smooth.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
big one jessie
March 15th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
For those not watching, Roy’s not wearing an undershirt today, just like yesterday. No T-shirt, no cut-off, just his jersey and biceps.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Good start, keep playing hard
March 15th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Jessie Sapp makes a three from the top of the key to make it a 6-0 lead, Pitt calls an early timeout, with just under two minutes played.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
No foul?
March 15th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Pitt answers with a five point run of their own, a 6-5 lead for Georgetown with the ball, but only four seconds on the shot clock. 15:44 left in the first.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm is being awarded the first annual Leadership Award at center court. A lot of basketball fans are uninterested.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
crazy
March 15th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Wallace just swished a three pointer from a mile out with the shotclock expiring.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
needed to dunk that one roy
March 15th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Roy gets a layup blocked and the Pittsburgh fans are loving it here. It was a good catch from Roy as Pat kinda misfired on the pass, but once he had it he needed to dunk it.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
After the Ramon turnover, Pat and DaJuan had a breakaway. Pat fed DaJuan who slammed it home.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Woulda though Pat coulda taken that one himself or alleyooped it or something Those guys are the best dunkers on the team
March 15th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
What is that fouL? Jeremiah didnt even use his arms?
March 15th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
rivers you’re killing me, a turnover and a needless foul
March 15th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Jeremiah picks up his second foul on a questionable call, and Pitt cuts the lead to three, 11-8.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Looked like the ball was off the Hoyas as Pat threw away a backdoor cut, but Donato gave the Hoyas the ball.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Count the basket, offensive foul on Brown. Pitt leads 13-11 as we reach the 12:00 timeout.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Rare play you don’t see very often. Pat turned down an easy layup to set up Austin for three. He hit it to give the Hoyas the lead 14-13.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
smoothness from austin
March 15th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Foul there was on Roy. I thought it could have been on Pat, as they both kind of smashed into DeJuan Blair, but they gave the foul to Hibbert, his first.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
NO! blair initiates all the contact
March 15th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
From NBA range, Jessie Sapp gives the Hoyas a 22-16 lead.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
darnit!
March 15th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
The fifth team foul is called on Sapp and brings us to the eight minute timeout. Hoyas up by one, 22-21 with 7:01 left in the first half.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I’m just checking back through the comments, and I said “Rare play you don’t see very often.” Most people call that “Redundant”
March 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
need to be aware there austin
March 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
why reach there roy???
March 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
good work for roy there, hoyas need to get some rebounds tho
March 15th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
great hustle from pat
March 15th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Hoyas use a thirty second timeout down three, 29-26, with 3:32 left in the first. Next whistle will also be the four minute timeout.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
They clearly hit Wallace there. Why no call? They only seem to call fouls inside nothing on jumpshots
March 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
come on hoyas, lets close out the half strong and take a bit of a lead into halftime
March 15th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
As I mentioned, we are at the four minute timeout, same score, Hoyas ball with only eight on the shot clock.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Last time the shotclock was winding down, Hoyas had a violation. The time before that, Wallace hit a three from near midcourt. I wonder what the Coaches are drawing up for this one.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
freshman mistake there
March 15th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
rebounding are killling us
March 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
DeJuan Blair missed a freethrow and there was a violation on the second. So the Hoyas have the ball down five when it could have been seven.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
someone must have told cahill it was 7-2 on fouls
March 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Nice hands by Dajuan. just too close to the sideline.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Crawford is checking in for the last 46.4 seconds of the half.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Pitt has been getting a lot of offensive rebounds. But Tyler saved that one there.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
need a hoop here
March 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
hOW IS THERE NO FOUL THERE?
March 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
not a good half but we’re still in decent shape
March 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
That’s the end of the half. Hoyas trail by 3, 31-28. The Panthers seem to be having little trouble with the Georgetown defense, taking and hitting several jump shots from near the foul line, and they are outhustling the Hoyas, earning several second chance points.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Sorry about the capslock there.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Here’s something I noticed. I haven’t received the halftime stats yet, so I can verify for you later on. But I think Pat has only taken one shot. I think he made a bet with someone on the team that he could have a double double, and he’s concentrating on assists and rebounds. I can’t think of another explanation since he’s been giving away easy looks at the basket.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Whereas the West Virginia band was playing “Kung Fu Fighting” yesterday. Pitt’s pep band is now playing “Soak Up the Sun.” I think I now see why Dan Steinberg was so fond of the Mountaineers.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Pitt has a 19 - 9 rebounding advantage. 10 - 0 on the offensive end. We’ve got to do better to win
March 15th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
big A is right, Pitt is outrebounding the Hoyas. I just got the official stats. They say Pitt’s rebounding edge is 20-11 and they have 11 offensive boards.
Also, Pat is 0-1 from the field with 3 assists. No rebounds though. He does have three blocks, so maybe that’s what he’s aiming for. I’m sure the Hoyas would be pleased with more boards, though.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
what is the atmosphere in the garden? are our fans vocal? can’t really tell on tv.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Atmosphere is kind of mixed. Pitt fans get loud when they’re doing well, and Hoya fans are loud in their own regard. I’d say it’s pretty even right now. We’ll have to see when it gets to crunch time.
Lame answer, I know, sorry.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
lets go hoyas, right now, no excuses, lets go
March 15th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
To start the second half, Roy misses a hook from the baseline, and Sam Young hits a jumper.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
pretty poor start for the hoyas so far
March 15th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
wow, we got lucky on that ramon miss lets take advantage
March 15th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Goaltending on a Roy hook gets the Hoyas on the board in the second half, 35-30.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
big shot jessie
March 15th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
“Let’s Go Pitt” is echoing pretty loudly in here
March 15th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
“Let’s Go Hoyas” is now doing the same.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Timeout on the floor, 15:28 left in the game, Hoyas down four, 39-35, Blair to shoot two free throws due to the third foul on Summers.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
someone at the garden page mean roy please
March 15th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
box out, need the rebounds
March 15th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
LETS GO!
March 15th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Wow. After some sloppy play back and forth Wallace feeds Summer for a huge alley-oop jam.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Where is the foul??
March 15th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Whoever was asking, the crowd erupted for the Georgetown commercial they’re playing on the big screen, while the University of Pittsburgh ad got nothing.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
There’s a large difference in free throws today, as the Hoyas have only shot two on the first play of the game. Since then, Pitt has shot 14 free throws. Fortunately, they have only made 5.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
BS foul
March 15th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
dont bail them out on that garbage refs
March 15th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Questionable call there gives DaJuan his fourth personal with 13:04 left in the game.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
this is garbage, disgusting
March 15th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Refs are looking at the replay. I don’t know why. Maybe they’re questioning if the foul was on Ewing or someone else.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Travelling for sure. Ridiculous.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
this is getting ridicuous, no foul there on freeman drive????
March 15th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Hoyas ball down six at the 12 minute timeout. 11:52 left in the game, 43-37 Pitt. As for the foul disparity, the Hoyas have 12 fouls, while Pitt has only been whistled for four. In other words, DaJuan Summers has committed as many fouls as the entire Pitt team.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
need need need the fts jeremiah, lets go
March 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I don’t know how the refs missed that goaltending on Roy. The Pitt shot hit the backboard way before Roy got there.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
That’s the worse call of the game.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Rivers now has 4 fouls as well. I don’t think he did a thing there, though.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
very poor shot selection for the hoyas
March 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Third foul on Hibbert puts Pitt in the one and one.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
now four on roy, this game is over
March 15th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Now Roy has four fouls. That makes four personals for Roy, DaJuan, and Jeremiah.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Hoyas just can’t seem to find the mark from long range, and they’re defense is not doing anything.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Last 1-1 for Pitt as Ewing was whistled for a foul on Sam Young. 7:30 to go in the game, Georgetown down 49-42. If the Hoyas want back-to-back BET titles, they will have to turn it around right now.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
box out
March 15th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
dagger
March 15th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
DaJuan Summers has just fouled out with 7:25 remaining. Pittsburgh is up 10 and will be shooting one from the line.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
gimme a break with that call, call it when it matters
March 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hibbert hits a hook shot to cut the lead to 11, 55-44, and Thompson calls a timeout. It’s going to be tough for the Hoyas as Roy has 4 fouls, Summers is already fouled out, and the Panthers will shoot two on any Hoya foul. There is 5:52 on the clock.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Coach Thompson is doing offense-defense with Roy and Austin coming in for Jeremiah and Vernon.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
good work macklin, games not over quite yet
March 15th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hibbert scores and gets fouled. He makes the free throw. 56-49 Pitt.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
lets get a stop here boys
March 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
That’s also #4 on Blair. They’ve been announcing it wrong, but they just corrected and said it’s 4 for him.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
That woulda been huge
March 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
another dagger
March 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Wallace misses a three, Hoyas almost come up with a steal, and then Ramon buries a three to push the score back up to ten with 3:38 remaining. Timeout Georgetown.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Pittsburgh ball with a 59-51 and 2:49 to go. It’s going to be very very tough for the Hoyas now.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
the execution today did us in i think, the offense never got into a rhytm
March 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
you assholes sound like a bunch of quitters let’s rally and pull it out
March 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
make the ft pattie
March 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
DAMN STRAIGHT CHRIS
March 15th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Pat’s three-point play cuts the lead to six, and Rivers fouls out on the ensuing in bounds, so it’s 60-54 Pitt, with 2:20 remaining and Pitt shooting two.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
One of two from Ramon.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
One of two again from Ramon.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
this is garbage tho, how many drives did we have when the game was close that they didnt call that? pick up hoyas, lets go
March 15th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Another three-point play from Pat cuts it two five with under two minutes remaining.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
apparently we are not allowed to go near pitt players
March 15th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
lets go hoyas, we’ve gotten it to five, need to get the lead to three, lets go
March 15th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
My statistician of the day is telling me that the Panthers have taken 34 free throws to the Hoyas’ 9.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
come on there, we are just playing defense ther, no one does anything
March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
That’s the game right there. No foul on Patrick’s drive?? At least call it somewhat evenly.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
thats such a clear foul, really bad no call there
March 15th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
too bad, call of the dogs now
March 15th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Crowd is going crazy here, sensing a Pitt victory.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
The refs gave up on this game with 3:00 left. Call it evenly down the stretch, when it’s important.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Foulshots made (made not attempted) 20-6 Pittsburgh. That’s 14 points, that’s the game.
They’ve taken 32 free throws this half, with two more on the way.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
You know, this game might have been different if DaJuan Summers could have played. Not to rail on the refs, because the Hoyas didn’t perform their best, but come on
March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
That’ll do it. Final score: 74-65. Pittsburgh has just won the Big East Championship.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
its a travel on fields, the game is over but still
March 15th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Good turnament for the Hoyas, not the best showing today. Hurried the offense a little. Give Pitts defense credit but maybe they comitted a few more than 4 fouls in the first 30 minutes of the game. Rebounding killed us and we could have maybe used Tyler Crawford for a little toughness in the first half. As true Hoya fans know this team can beat anyone but we need to play our best and today was not our best.
I wonder if all the pundits will jump off our bandwagon now. I hope so, we went from being a lucky not so good team to a sure bet final four team. Let see what they think about us tomorrow.